Pope Francis prays at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on March 27, 2020. On Thursday, a child protection panel advised the Catholic Church to provide reparations to abuse victims. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo
The Vatican’s child protection advisory panel on Thursday called for reparations to victims of clergy sexual abuse and sanctions on the abusers to help the victims heal.
In addition to the tangible examples of the Catholic Church showing a public acceptance of its responsibility for the abuse, the panel issued guidelines for psychological and spiritual support for the victims.
The suggestions came as part of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors’ second annual report. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, a jurist in charge of the panel, said the group intended to focus on reparations to victims in this year’s report — and not just financial ones.
“We have listened to the victims and their voices very carefully, and that’s another dimension of our methodology for the report,” she told Vatican News. “What they say is, basically, ‘what we want is to be listened to.’ Sometimes it’s more important that they’re feeling welcomed and supported, than receiving financial compensation, so this is a very important dimension of our second annual report.”
The panel said financial reparations are also necessary to help victims pay for therapy and other services they may need to recover from the trauma and abuse. Additionally, church leaders should apologize to the victims, and be transparent about how they’re punishing those responsible for the abuse and working to prevent abuse in the future.
“The church bears a moral and spiritual obligation to heal the deep wounds inflicted from sexual violence perpetrated, enabled, mishandled or covered up by anyone holding a position of authority in the church,” the report said.
“The principles of justice and fraternal charity, to which every Christian is called, require not only an acknowledgement of responsibility but also the implementation of concrete measures of reparation.”
Pope Francis established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in 2014 with the task of promoting the protection and dignity of minors and vulnerable adults. It concluded its duties after three years of work, but the pope reactivated the panel in 2018.
The commission of eight women and eight men includes victims of clerical abuse as well as their parents.
